Northeast GA Medical Center now using new CT Scanner

Northeast Georgia Medical Center now has the capabilities to utilize the Airo® Mobile Intraoperative CT scanner, a new technology that allows surgeons to use live imaging of patients’ anatomy during surgery.

Prior to this scanner, surgeons had to complete a surgical procedure and then transfer a patient to radiology for imaging. The Airo allows them to see images of a patient after each step in the surgical process.

Neurosurgeon at Longstreet Clinic, Dr. Betsy Grunch told WNEG news the benefits of this technology.

“It allows us to check the accuracy of everything that’s put in and make sure we’re happy with how everything looks before the patient leaves,” said Grunch. “If they have a misplaced screw or something of that nature that’s checked at the time of surgery and is addressed before they leave the OR. It especially helps in complex spine conditions like scoliosis.”

According to Grunch, the scanner can be used in any surgery but is most common for spinal, brain and orthopedics.

Grunch says it helps save an enormous amount of time during surgery for patients, which means faster recovery time and less trauma.

“It allows things to go faster, particularly in big cases,” said Grunch. “We can place screws in at least half the time we were able to before without having to use a lot of radiation to the staff and to the surgeon and do it in real time, so we know that everything is perfect before they leave the OR.”

Currently, NGMC Gainesville is the first and only hospital in Georgia using the Airo.

For more information on the Airo CT, visit nghs.com/Airo.